Pulmonary Function Lab
St. Peter's Hospital's Pulmonary Function Lab offers patients the latest technology in pulmonary testing ensuring complete, comprehensive and appropriate testing for those patients suffering from lung-related illnesses. The lab is staffed by Registered Pulmonary Function Technologists.
Technicians in the pulmonary function lab also can draw arterial blood gases which provide information about the oxygen and carbon dioxide pressure in the blood and perform pulse oximetry testing—a quick, non-invasive method of measuring oxygen saturation.
Pulmonary Testing
Pulmonary function testing can take from 15 minutes to one-and-a-half hours, depending on what tests have been ordered. Cardio-pulmonary stress tests may take up to two hours. Time on the treadmill usually lasts no longer than 15 minutes.
- Spirometry: Measuring flow rates in the airways.
- Lung Volumes: Measuring the total lung capacity either by Nitrogen Washout or Body Plethysmography.
- Diffusion Capacity: Measuring how well the oxygen from the air transfers through the lungs and into the blood stream.
- Methacholine Challenge: Measuring the hypersensitivity of the airways, for those patients who have questionable asthma.
- Cardio-Pulmonary Exercise Test: Measuring how well the heart and lungs work together during exercise.
To schedule any physician-ordered test, please call 518-525-1062 for an appointment.